Friends with the Weather, is a new project from the trio of singer-songwriter/multi-instrumentalists Seth Hendricks, Chris Good, and David Hupp and a continued exploration of Hendricks and Good's longtime songwriting partnership of 16 years.

We love writing songs and making music. This project and album is a bold and faithful testament to that love. For the first time we are surrounding our music with the kind of professional support and guidance (producers, recording engineers, musicians, videographers, etc…) that we think this art deserves and we hope you will enjoy the fruits of this labor of love!

This Kickstarter campaign will help us record our debut album & share it with the world!

THE PLAYERS:

Joining Seth, Chris, and David on the debut album is a trio of respected independent Michigan musicians.

Bass player Brennan Andes, a longtime collaborator of Chris' in Ann Arbor and founding member of the funky fusion band, The Macpodz, holds down the groove with depth and fire. Drummer Julian Allen (performed with Michelle Chamuel, Theo Katzman) brings his versatility and extensive jazz, funk and pop talent to the project. And singer-songwriter, guitarist, and founder of Earthwork Music, Seth Bernard joins the project as producer and guitarist, lending his vision, production expertise, soundscape experience and shared love of 80s & 90s basketball.

Also making contributions to the debut Friends with the Weather album that is being recorded at Jim Roll's Backseat Productions in Ann Arbor are vocalists Madelyn Grant and Lindsay Lou; a horn section of trumpeter Ross Huff, saxaphonist Rachel Mazer, and trombonist Bethanni Grecynski; guitarist James Cornelison, and cellist Abby Alwin.

Hendricks, Good, and Hupp are also preparing to release a companion live acoustic session filmed and recorded at Johnny's Speakeasy in Ann Arbor, MI. Featured on this session are Brennan Andes, mandolinist Jacob Jolliff of Yonder Mountain String Band, as well as Erin Zindle and Randall Moore of The Ragbirds, and Jacob Crouse of Mutual Kumquat.

THE MONEY:

Making music can be expensive. Somewhere between $50k and $100k is the budget an independent label would use to develop a new artist. To further put this in perspective, major labels spend $250,000 to $3,000,000 to develop artists you love, between making the artists' record and promoting it. The minimum we need to get the project moving forward is $20,000. We are so excited about this project and continue to be humbled & grateful for the ongoing support of our community.

We are including stretch goals of $33,000 & $45,000 because we really believe in this album and would love to be able to do more than just make the record. We would like to give more creative time and energy to the art, promote it in professional ways and share the message and stories of these songs.

Stretch Goal #1: $33,000 to record the Friends with the Weather's debut album with an intial promotional budget.

Stretch Goal #2: $45,000 to record the Friends with the Weather's debut album with a more aggressive promotional campaign and help us launch our first tour! Effectively and fully promote the album!

While these goals may seem large and ambitious, we're thinking hard about how we spend every dollar (For a more thorough and detailed explanation, check below in “THE BUDGET” section)

REWARDS:

The rewards are a huge piece of what makes this campaign so much fun! For some it might just be a glorified way to pre-order your copy of the album and for others the opportunity to hear us live in your living room for the first time. We hope that these rewards will showcase the music & project in a compelling way while also being an engaging community building opportunity to connect with many of you!

The "PLEASE PICK ME" package is a great deal. It is like pre-ordering the album with a few extra frills thrown in. If we can get just 400 people to donate at this level or higher, the initial goal is met!
Another highlight is “THE BEHIND THE SONGS BOOKLET,” which provides an inside look and reflection behind each song on the new album. If we get 200 people to donate at this level or higher, the initial goal is met!

The full list of Rewards are on the right side of this page. Pick the highest one that feels right to you and click on it. That will take you through to Amazon's secure website, where you commit to your contribution level. No money comes out of your account until we both make our minimum goal AND we get to the end of this Kickstarter campaign.

Plus, if there's anything else you want to see as a reward...let us know and we’ll consider adding it to the campaign just for you!

THE BACKERS:

This is you. You are what makes this possible. Please help us do what so many of you have strongly encouraged us to do through the years. Make good music for good people. We would not be doing this if we did not already feel your support and belief in this project.

And remember to share! Please share this on your Facebook page, on your Twitter feed, with your families, best friends, colleagues, etc…Or find a small mountaintop near you to shout it from! The success of these campaigns depend on the grassroots support of people like you helping to spread the word.

We are so grateful for you and we can't wait to share more of this music with you.

Your friends,
Seth, Chris & Dave

Want to know even more?! Read on!

THE BUDGET:

Here's a rough breakdown of how project costs would be spent out of our Ultimate Budget of $45,000. Again, every dime you donate is going towards making this album, promoting this album, and fulfilling Kickstarter rewards.

"Making the Album" (estimated $27,000):

1. Studio time: we are recording at Backseat Productions in Ann Arbor, MI with a very talented recording engineer, Jim Roll. Jim makes everything sound so good whether it's the sounds he gets recording in his studio or through his mixing and mastering expertise. And, he almost went pro in ping pong!

2. Musicians: We are working with some of the Midwest’s finest studio musicians and compensating their contributions with fair wages.

3. Producer: we are thrilled to be working with Seth Bernard, founder of Earthwork Music (our new label!), a gifted singer-songwriter himself, who has worked with other professional artists we love and understands the heart and soul of what we are doing.

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $25 or more
About $25

THE PRE-ORDER (vinyl)

For you vinyl enthusiasts: get the full-length, 12 track, debut Friends with the Weather (FWTW) album. Note: longer production schedules with vinyl will cause delayed delivery of your vinyl after the official album release date.

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $50 or more
About $50

THE PLEASE PICK ME!

This is the one, folks. If we get 400 people to give at this amount we will reach our goal of getting this album made! In return, you'll get a signed CD or Vinyl copy of the new album when it is released + a brand new FWTW T-shirt + THE EARLY BIRD SPECIAL. When you pledge this amount, please also send in a photo of yourself (or your kids, or dogs, or whatever!) that we will place into a collage of all the “friends” who made this FWTW project happen. This will be included in the new album CD/Vinyl. We want to see your face as part of our album! **note: Vinyl orders will arrive later in Fall 2016

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $75 or more
About $75

THE FRISBEE

A Friends with the Weather must! Designed with our logo, this frisbee is UPA approved and 175g of pure awesomeness. With disc in hand, you will be ready to befriend any season of life! ====> Also receive THE PLEASE PICK ME

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $100 or more
About $100

THE BEHIND THE SONGS BOOKLET

Friends, this is another one of our best rewards. If just 200 backers give at this amount or more we will reach our first goal. This includes a deluxe edition book of behind the song stories, lyrics, original artwork and studio pictures from the album. ====> Also receive THE PLEASE PICK ME + FRISBEE

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $100 or more
About $100

THE FAMILY REUNION

5 copies of the album not enough? This bundle of 10 CDs is even a greater savings for the generous music fan. Family reunion? Party favors? Stocking stuffers? Whatever your inspiration is to share the music, the gift of music is a gift that keeps on giving.

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $500 or more
About $500

THE ORIGINAL SONG

Ever wanted a song written specifically for you? Here’s your chance. You give us a theme, occasion, or someone special and we will send a brand new song straight to your doorstep! Perfect for weddings, engagements, birthdays, anniversaries, random occasions, holidays, motivational speeches, and just for kicks. Will come in the form of a high-quality MP3. ====> It also includes THE PLEASE PICK ME + BEHIND THE SONGS BOOKLET.

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $750 or more
About $750

THE VIRTUAL SHOW

A virtual concert, wherever you are in the world! It's a live, hour long set of our songs. If you're a fan abroad (or in the US far away from us), we'd love to spend this time together and best of all, you can be in the comfort of your home! ====> It also includes THE PLEASE PICK ME + BEHIND THE SONGS BOOKLET.

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $1,000 or more
About $1,000

THE PRODUCER

Your name in lights! We will credit your name in the album credits as someone who helped produce and bring this art into the world. It is sure to be, wait for it…Legendary! ====> It also includes THE PLEASE PICK ME + BEHIND THE SONGS BOOKLET + THE FRISBEE.

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $1,500 or more
About $1,500

ACOUSTIC HOUSE CONCERT

Yep. This means us in your home!!! At least 3 Friends will come to your house, or a location of your choosing and perform a concert. You can even help choose the set list if you so desire. (If this isn't along a band tour or in Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, we may need you to cover some travel expenses.) ====> It also includes THE PLEASE PICK ME + BEHIND THE SONGS BOOKLET + THE FRISBEE.

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $2,500 or more
About $2,500

FULL BAND CONCERT

Have a full FWTW band (at least 5 friends) come and play a concert! We will come play on your roof. Or at your church or community center. Or at your wedding. Or a dance party in your barn. Or for your grandma’s birthday. Or a dance party in your barn for your grandma’s birthday . We'll shape the set list to what you like and even learn a few of your favorite covers. Basically, together we will find a date and place that works and create something spectacular! (If this isn't along a band tour or in Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, we may need you to cover some travel expenses.) ====> You will also receive THE PLEASE PICK ME + BEHIND THE SONGS BOOKLET + THE FRISBEE.

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $5,000 or more
About $5,000

FRIENDS WITH THE WEATHER WEEKEND!

Together we will set up an agenda for the weekend that might include: us teaching you our favorite board games, a live concert, chili cook-off, Friends with the Weather Olympics, jam sessions, us cooking you dinner, Seth putting his nearly unblemished record in the game of Clue on the line, and did we mention ping-pong? Let’s dream big and make a special memory together! (If this isn't along a band tour or in Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, we may need you to cover some travel expenses.) ====> You will also receive THE PLEASE PICK ME + BEHIND THE SONGS BOOKLET + THE FRISBEE.